Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's funeral was attended by thousands of Iranians and several high-ranking officials and dignitaries from around the world.
Mr Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and thousands joined processions in Tehran, before the burial in Mr Raisi's home city of Mashhad on Thursday.
Notably, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah was in attendance - his second visit to Tehran since a 2023 agreement between Riyadh and Tehran to re-establish ties.
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim was seen with a delegation shaking hands and exchanging words with Iranian officials at the processions. Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani was also present.
From the Gulf, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed led the UAE delegation that took part in an official mourning ceremony for Mr Raisi.
Kuwait's Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al Yahya attended the funeral on behalf of Emir Sheikh Meshal, the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry said.
Tunisian President Kais Saied and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani were among regional leaders in attendance, as well as Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. Egypt has had no diplomatic relations with Iran since the 1979 revolution.
Russia, an ally of Iran since the 1990s, sent Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov who was seen at the processions, although leaders from the West were absent. The two countries have developed stronger military ties since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Major Iran-backed armed groups also attended. Hamas's political head Ismail Haniyeh made it his first trip outside of Doha, where he lives, since the International Criminal Court requested an arrest warrant for alleged war crimes, alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
During his attendance of the funeral processions, Mr Haniyeh, who has lost three of his sons in the war in Gaza, said he was present "on behalf of the Palestinian people" and "in the name of the resistance factions of Gaza", to offer his condolences.
Lebanon-based, Iran-backed group Hezbollah's deputy leader Naim Qassem was also at the funeral on Wednesday.
Mr Qassem was seen alongside Mr Haniyeh.
Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam Al Houthi was also present at the funeral. Both Hezbollah and Yemen's Houthis received the bulk of their support from Iran.
Other paramilitary groups, including elements of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces attended, represented by Faleh Al Fayadh, who is under US sanctions, as well as Mr Qassem.
The Book of Collateral Damage
Sinan Antoon
(Yale University Press)
How to increase your savings
- Have a plan for your savings.
- Decide on your emergency fund target and once that's achieved, assign your savings to another financial goal such as saving for a house or investing for retirement.
- Decide on a financial goal that is important to you and put your savings to work for you.
- It's important to have a purpose for your savings as it helps to keep you motivated to continue while also reducing the temptation to spend your savings.
- Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Asia Cup Qualifier
Final
UAE v Hong Kong
TV:
Live on OSN Cricket HD. Coverage starts at 5.30am
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
Maestro
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MATCH INFO
Aston Villa 1 (Konsa 63')
Sheffield United 0
Red card: Jon Egan (Sheffield United)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last-16, second leg (first-leg scores in brackets):
PSG (2) v Manchester United (0)
Midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports